There’s something satisfying about solving a problem using your own brainpower and ingenuity rather than relying on others to take care of it for you. We certainly understand that mentality, however, sometimes problems require a level of expertise that we ourselves do not possess. For example, unless you’re a trained mechanic you’re probably not going to work on your car’s engine. The same goes for ridding your home of mice and/or rats- unless you are well-versed in rodent behavior and control methods, you’re probably going to fight a losing battle no matter how many mouse traps you set or other DIY rodent methods you implement. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
The cheesy truth about mouse traps
The classic cartoons you watched as a kid have misled you- baiting traps with cheese isn’t likely to produce the results you’re aiming for. The truth is mice prefer peanut butter, grains, cookies, chocolate syrup, and pet food more than they care for Swiss, cheddar, or other types of cheese. Will they eat cheese though? Although their love for cheese is misrepresented, they will eat it if that’s what’s available. It just may not be enough to lure mice into a trap. They are suspicious rodents after all. The wrong bait in a mouse trap can lead to DIY failure.
Curiosity might kill the cat but it’ll have a harder time eliminating mice
As we just mentioned, mice are very suspicious critters. Sure, they’re curious but they may not be willing to put themselves in harm’s way to satisfy their interest. If a mouse trap or mouse traps are set up too far into a room and not along the edge where they typically travel, it’s not likely mice will leave the relative safety of the wall to come near to a trap that is set out in the open. Improper placement of traps often leads to less-than-stellar results.
A cautionary tale about being reactive
Another reason mouse traps ultimately fail to eradicate mice activity is that they’re a reactionary tool. They might trap a mouse or even several that have already gotten inside a house but they’re not proactively fighting the rodent problem. In other words, it’s not stopping mice from coming in or multiplying while in residence. They’re simply picking off the brave (or possibly less intelligent) ones that react to the bait you’ve planted.
So how do you stop the flow of mice entering your home for good?
If you’re serious about getting rid of mice that have been infesting your home, you’re going to have to look deeper. Mouse traps and other DIY products you can purchase on Amazon or pick up at the store are stopgaps… deterrents… they are not meant to provide a long-term solution. That is, at least not entirely. The key to a mouse-free home is to find the root source(s) of the problem and fix those.
What are the root causes of a mouse infestation?
In order to live a comfortable(ish) life, mice need food, water, and shelter. It just so happens that if a home provides easy access to all three of those elements, mice, which are commensal rodents, will come calling.
How to keep mice out of your New Jersey home this fall and all year long
As we touched on previously, it’s imperative that you identify and correct conditions that attract rodents to your home and remove all potential entry points wily mice can slip through. To that end, below you’ll find a short list of rodent prevention tips from the Arrow team:
- Seal off every crack, gap, and opening on the exterior of your home from the foundation to the tip-top.
- Eliminate moisture problems by running dehumidifiers and repairing leaks.
- Keep garage doors closed when not in use and consider installing weather stripping to eliminate the space between the garage floor and the bottom of the door(s).
- Toss cardboard boxes, old newspapers, anything you don’t use and that mice might utilize for nesting material.
- Organize your attic and use storage boxes that can withstand the incisors that come standard on every mouse.
- Declutter your basement and address dampness, if applicable.
- Keep your kitchen and pantry spic and span.
- Empty indoor trash cans regularly and do not pile trash bags up around outdoor receptacles.
- Trim back tree limbs and shrubbery so that there’s a no contact with the exterior of your home.
- Clear clogged gutters of leaves and other debris and confirm that downspouts point away from the foundation.
The best protection against mice is ongoing home pest control
At Arrow Pest Control, we’ve been protecting homes and families from destructive and illness spreading mice and other house-infesting pests since 1973 and offer effective home pest control services in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset and Union counties that not only eliminate existing pest activity but also prevents new infestations from occurring.
To find a year-round pest solution that suits your needs, check out our home pest control plans and pricing below. You can also give us a call to discuss your specific situation or to schedule a free home evaluation!
